BALLS on the moon: China set to launch Africa's 1st lunar science mission in 2029 - Space

What the report says

Space.com reports that China’s planned Chang’e-8 lunar lander, scheduled for 2029, could carry what is described as Africa’s first space exploration mission to the moon’s south pole region. The payload, developed under the Africa2Moon initiative, is called the Bounced African Low Lunar Sphere, or BALLS, and consists of three spherical probes intended to operate together as a low-frequency radio astronomy array on the lunar surface.

According to the report, each metal sphere contains antennas designed to detect low-frequency radio signals from extremely distant and early parts of the universe. Such signals are difficult or impossible to observe from Earth because of atmospheric and radio interference. The project was selected by the Chinese National Space Administration in April 2025 as one of several international payloads for Chang’e-8.

The mission is led by the Foundation for Space Development Africa with partners including the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory, the South African National Space Agency, and academic or research institutions in South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Botswana and elsewhere on the continent. Space.com says components were made by teams in Cape Town and at South African universities, with structural and functional models assembled in April 2026 for delivery to the Chang’e-8 team for testing.

If deployed, the three probes would send data to the Chinese lander for relay to Earth. The BALLS demonstrator is also meant to pave the way for a larger Africa2Moon concept involving 55 antennas on the lunar far side, though mission director Carla Mitchell told Space.com that a follow-on effort would likely depend on another launch partnership.